Free Things to Do in Sydney

Lnahi11 on 08/02/2013 - 11:07
Last edited 08/02/2013 - 11:17

Hey,

I have a friend visiting Australia for 26 days and I was just wondering some of the thing we could that are free or cheap. They don't have to completely free, but something under $30 per person (2) would be good. We're both full time students, so money isn't all that abundant for us :p

Here is a list of what I have found so far:

1 Chinese Garden of Friendship
2 Opera house
3 Luna park
4 Spit Bridge to Manly Walk
5 Government House
6 Royal Botanic Garderns
7 Bondi Beach
8 Paddington Resorvoir Garden
9 Art Gallery of NSW
10 Powerhouse Museum
11 The Museum of Contemporary Art
12 The rocks
13 Sydney Olympic Park
14 Ferry under Harbour bridge
15 Blue Mountains
16 Sydney Harbour Natinal Park
17 Darling harbour/ Circular Quay
18 National Maritime Museum lol
19 Mermaid pools Tahmoor
20 Manly Beaches
21 Sydney Harbour islands
22 Centennial Park
23 Rose Bay to Watsons Bay
24 Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach Coastal Walks
25 Chinatown
26 Sydney Observatory
27 boardwalk at Bicentennial Park
28 Movies
29 Circular Quay to Botanic Gardens
30 Sydney Markets
31 Taroonga zoo
32 Cremorne Point/Mosman Bay Walk
33 Customs House
34 Lucas Heights Nuclear Reactor 23 feb, 9th 1:15 canons

Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Travel

Comments

  • alfamale87 on 08/02/2013 - 11:35

    Hi do you have kids?? Or have family with children ? If so you can take a trip all over Sydney with a City rail/light rail/ferry family fun pass on a Sunday for $2.50 only catch is that you have to have the children there and be 'related'

    • nahi11 on 08/02/2013 - 11:45

      We're just a student, so the family sunday funday wouldn't apply unless we were a bit dodgy. I think student fares will be ok. Thanks for the suggestion though.

  • battler on 08/02/2013 - 12:07

    seems like you're open to walking - a walk across the harbour bridge and around the cahill expressway (above circular quay) is quite underrated.

    also, kings cross at night.

    • nahi11 on 08/02/2013 - 12:11

      Yea, walking is not really a problem - not that we much of a choice. I thought of Kings cross but didn't put it for some reason I no longer remember. Thanks!

  • boab88 on 08/02/2013 - 12:33

    Go to Bundeena for a day-trip. There is Paddle-boarding and Canoes you can rent and they're not too pricey.

  • gilbarc on 08/02/2013 - 12:39

    It's not free (under $30 though), and given how thorough your list is, you've probably already thought of it, but… Sydney Tower Eye observation deck. Cheaper prices if you book online.

    If you want a slightly cheaper lookout, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout is only $8.50 for students ($15 for adults). It's also open-air, rather than behind glass, so you can take nicer photos.

  • EyeEatChildren on 08/02/2013 - 12:44

    Most stip clubs in the kings cross will let you in for free if you dress well and enter later on (2am).

  • danyool on 12/02/2013 - 00:37

    You've got a few good ones on your list. Get your friend to pick up the Sydney book when arriving at the airport (Before Customs/pasport control i think) which will have discounts to a few on your list, eg 20% off Taronga zoo. You could try to get an Entertainment Book. It costs ~$65 to buy, but has a bunch of vouchers and buy 1 get 1 free coupons for some of your things s well as restraunts, cafes, but it's near end of run for this year so not many places will prob have it, and new book's not out yet. http://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/about/how-to-buy

    Check out Time Out Sydney for some more ideas Free ones here http://www.au.timeout.com/sydney/events?name=&keyword=&lette… but also just to see whats on, some might be cheap.

    Also check http://www.allthedeals.com.au/group-buying to maybe find a deal on something that you may be interested in. Watch out for dates/times you can use it.

    Also, if you're both on hols, def look at going further afield. 3+ weeks (26days) just in Sydney may be a bit of a waste when so much else to see! But if you're working and spending time when you can, then maybe. Check out Newcastle/Hunter, Woollongong, Kiama,just to name a few places. (long daytrip, or overnight trips. Can go by train - well, maybe not Hunter/vineyards)

    • nahi11 on 12/02/2013 - 09:48

      You've got a few good ones on your list. Get your friend to pick up the Sydney book when arriving at the airport (Before Customs/pasport control i think)

      Thanks, I'll have a look into that.

      We may try Newcastle and Canberra but yeah thanks for the suggestions guys.

  • macharmaine on 12/02/2013 - 21:50
    +1

    wow thats a great list, i might do a few of those in the coming weeks if weather is good! for ferry under harbour bridge, i suggest Cockatoo Island. Its fun walking around, with stairs/ tunnel, great view on cliff top, old convict ruins etc. a mix bag of architecture. weird paintings on walls etc. free entry just pay for ferry ride. http://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/

    and if you are going to Luna park, check out Wendy's Secret Garden!! its awesome! beautiful, lots of tree/flowers many interesting art objects and furniture, nice place to play hide & seek!! its so hidden. hope you find it! its right next to luna park but blink & you miss it!! ask a local for direction. free entry.
    http://www.weekendnotes.com/wendys-secret-garden/

    lastly I'd like to recommend La Perouse and Bare Island. Lots of heritage history. and beautiful views. you can walk to Bare Island with a Fortress, famous for being in the movie Mission Impossible 2 with Tom Cruise!!
    http://www.goodwalkingbooks.com/la_perouse.html

    • nahi11 on 12/02/2013 - 22:12

      Thanks, I'll have a look into those links.

  • csg001 on 13/02/2013 - 19:48
    +1

    Do take note that student discount on public transports are only available to people with an official NSW Transport concession card/sticker. If you got a student card from Melbourne, tough luck. Likewise if you are from Queensland. And don't even think about it if you are from overseas!

    • gilbarc on 13/02/2013 - 21:36

      The same goes for student discounts at quite a few places around Sydney too. You'll have to check the web site for each one to find out if non-NSW students are eligible or not.

  • BrisbaneBargainer on 22/02/2013 - 01:23

    What is the best Pass to visit as many tourist attractions as possible for the best price..

  • grasstown on 05/03/2013 - 01:21

    Great list. I'd skip Olympic park. I'd also skip bicentennial park cos its so isolated. Maybe you like plants though? A Day in surry hills is nice, just strolling the streets and cafes. I like newtown too , but more for the food and drink. Nice hubs of Sydney. But the ones on your list like rocks are priority

  • wiz187 on 10/03/2013 - 09:45

    http://www.imfree.com.au/
    guided tour of Sydney city. 2 odd hours walking, worth it.

  • harn.mui on 01/04/2013 - 14:34

    Thanks for sustaining my holiday mood.

    Free/fairly cheap:
    * "Bay Run" picturesque 7km walk around the Canada Bay /Drummoyne area, great on a beautiful mild Autumn day
    * Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylons offer great view across the city (apparently far better than going up Sydney Tower)
    * visit St Andrews Cathedral next to Sydney Town Hall, beautiful architecture. They also have various lunchtime events such as concerts and public talks
    * Sydney Conservatorium of Music (Sydney University( Verbruggen Hall situated near the Botanic Gardens also have lunchtime concerts most Wednesday lunchtimes for a gold coin donation. Musicians are students at the Conservatorium. Beautiful venue.
    * tour the Sydney Fish Markets and maybe catch the light rail there
    * various Markets in the inner city, eg. Paddington
    * Captain Cooks Landing Place
    * recommended bush walk in Blue Mountains: Govetts Leap/Grand Canyon Walk / Evans Lookout at Blackheath, Wentworth Falls (do make adequate preparations though! and get some free emergency beacons from the information centre nearby) - there's a shortish walk down the valley which is very picturesque about 2-3 hrs return from memory

    Not free, but good value IMHO:
    * Jenolan Caves with Entertainment Book Buy 1 get 1 free coupon
    * Hunter Valley Gardens - very pretty themed gardens and lake (there used to be an Amex deal - buy 1 get 1 free entry…you might find other discounts available)
    * Dance class at the Sydney Dance Company :)

    Other ideas:
    * coffee/drink at the Park Hyatt (expensive, but it will be under $15pp, to enjoy the view!)
    * lunch at the Cafe on top of the Museum of Contemporary Art, also in Entertainment Book buy 1 main get 1 complimentary main

    OK distracted enough - better get back to my to do list… ;)

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